S-3755.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6256

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Senators Morton, Rasmussen and Swecker

Read first time 01/14/98.  Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Environment.

Changing provisions relating to prevention of cruelty to animals.

    AN ACT Relating to animal cruelty; and amending RCW 16.52.185.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 16.52.185 and 1994 c 261 s 22 are each amended to read as follows:

    Nothing in this chapter applies to accepted husbandry practices used in the commercial raising or slaughtering of livestock or poultry, or products ((thereof or)); to the use of animals in the normal and usual course of rodeo events; the humane, usual, and normal use of horses in racing activities that are authorized under chapter 67.16 RCW and that are subject to rules adopted by the Washington horse racing commission under RCW 67.16.020; the humane, normal, and usual use of animals for activities including, but not limited to, logging, riding, showing, or driving; or to the customary humane use or exhibiting of animals in normal and usual events at fairs as defined in RCW 15.76.120.

For the purposes of this section, "humane" means animal use that would be characterized as kind, merciful, or compassionate by a reasonably prudent animal owner using the animal under the same conditions.

                            --- END ---